First pick
Brennan Park
Park or garden
20 ha0.6 km of path
10 minto walk all 0.6 km of path
0.9 km southfrom the centre
Sea to Sky Trail
Directionsto a point inside
Photo: The original uploader was Damieng at English Wikipedia . · CC BY-SA 3.030%protected within 10 km
Outdoors in Squamish · parks, protected land & trails
Protected areas cover 30% of the country around Squamish
Within 5 km are 20 beaches; Fisherman's Beach is the nearest. 20 areas within 10 km are protected for nature. For walks, 3 named routes run within 2 km, such as the Sea to Sky Trail and Shannon Basin Loop.
Protected land
30%
of the land within 10 km
Typical Canadian town: 2.3%
Protected areas
20
within 10 km, 18 public
Typical Canadian town: 14
Nearest national park
85 km
Gulf Islands National Park Reserve
Nearest provincial park
At the edge
Alice Lake Park
Walking routes
3
named, within 2 km (OpenStreetMap)
Beaches
20
within 5 km (OpenStreetMap)
Character
What sets Squamish apart outdoors
Each figure against Canadian towns of 2,500+; tap a tile for the detail.
Protected land all round30% of the land within 10 km, more than 98% of Canadian townsProtected land in town21% of Squamish itself lies in protected areasBeaches20 beaches within 5 kmWalking routes3 named routes within 2 km
Squamish is strongest on protected land around it, with protected land inside its own boundary close behind.
Against other towns
How Squamish compares with other Canadian towns
Each figure against the 2,611 Canadian towns and neighbourhoods of 2,500+ (not city hubs or reserves), with the town marked and the typical one’s line. No letter: the outdoors is described for Canadian towns, not graded.
Protected within 10 km30%Share of the land and water within 10 km of the town’s edge in a protected or conserved area
Protected in town21%Share of the town’s own area in a protected or conserved area
Public protected areas18Areas within 10 km held by a government or an Indigenous nation
Walking routes3Named OpenStreetMap walking and hiking routes with 300 m+ within 2 km
Beaches20Beaches mapped on OpenStreetMap within 5 km
CPCAD 2.9.0 (ECCC, 2026), OpenStreetMap (November 2026). Distances from the town’s outline.
Towns its size
No town of the 40 its size has more protected land around it than Squamish
The 40 Canadian towns nearest in population (27,291 to 29,960 residents), by the share of the land within 10 km that is protected. Hover for each one’s figures; click for its page.
Protected within 10 km
Squamish30%
Towns its size3.4%
Towns in British Columbia6.7%
Typical Canadian town2.3%
Public protected areas
Squamish18
Towns its size9
Towns in British Columbia14
Typical Canadian town4
Walking routes
Squamish3
Towns its size0
Towns in British Columbia1
Typical Canadian town0
For protected land nearby, Squamish tops all 39 other towns its size.
Every town in the comparison
| Town | Protected within 10 km | In town | Areas | Routes | Beaches | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Squamish BC | 30% | 21% | 20 | 3 | 20 |
| 2 | Du Plateau QC | 22% | 25% | 48 | 4 | 9 |
| 3 | Marpole BC | 17% | 0% | 13 | 0 | 5 |
| 4 | Bedford NS | 15% | 2.3% | 29 | 11 | 5 |
| 5 | Portobello South ON | 12% | 0% | 41 | 0 | 1 |
| 6 | Austinville NS | 11% | 0% | 27 | 7 | 17 |
| 7 | Kitsilano BC | 10% | 0% | 11 | 3 | 68 |
| 8 | René-Lévesque QC | 8.1% | 0% | 23 | 1 | 5 |
| 9 | Montagne QC | 7.7% | 42% | 20 | 1 | 5 |
| 10 | Parc-Kent QC | 5.4% | 0% | 23 | 0 | 0 |
| 11 | Stonebridge - Half Moon Bay ON | 5% | 0.8% | 10 | 0 | 0 |
| 12 | Laurendeau QC | 4.9% | 0% | 27 | 0 | 0 |
| 13 | Marie-Victorin QC | 4.7% | 0% | 22 | 0 | 2 |
| 14 | Alloa ON | 4.2% | 8.7% | 14 | 1 | 0 |
| 15 | King ON | 4.1% | 2.7% | 94 | 6 | 1 |
| 16 | Collingwood ON | 3.9% | 0.2% | 15 | 0 | 3 |
| 17 | Duberger—Les Saules QC | 3.7% | 0% | 29 | 1 | 4 |
| 18 | Vieux-Rosemont QC | 3.7% | 0% | 18 | 0 | 1 |
| 19 | Conception Bay South NL | 3.6% | 0% | 1 | 2 | 23 |
| 20 | Grandview-Woodland BC | 3.5% | 0% | 12 | 4 | 51 |
| 21 | Agincourt North ON | 3.3% | 0% | 20 | 0 | 0 |
| 22 | Wasaga Beach ON | 3% | 21% | 3 | 0 | 13 |
| 23 | Clairlea-Birchmount ON | 2.7% | 2.4% | 15 | 0 | 12 |
| 24 | Golfdale-Cedarbrae-Woburn ON | 2.7% | 0% | 18 | 0 | 4 |
| 25 | York University Heights ON | 2.7% | 1.2% | 22 | 0 | 0 |
| 26 | West Hill ON | 2.4% | 15% | 16 | 0 | 6 |
| 27 | Boisbriand QC | 2.3% | 0.2% | 35 | 2 | 1 |
| 28 | Harbourfront-CityPlace ON | 2.2% | 0% | 12 | 7 | 42 |
| 29 | Tam O'Shanter-Sullivan ON | 2.2% | 0% | 18 | 0 | 0 |
| 30 | Wexford/Maryvale ON | 2% | 0% | 15 | 0 | 5 |
| 31 | Crémazie QC | 1.8% | 0% | 15 | 0 | 0 |
| 32 | Parc-Extension QC | 1.6% | 0% | 16 | 0 | 0 |
| 33 | Banbury-Don Mills ON | 1.6% | 2.4% | 13 | 0 | 1 |
| 34 | Picton ON | 1.5% | 3.6% | 31 | 1 | 13 |
| 35 | South Riverdale ON | 1.5% | 16% | 12 | 9 | 49 |
| 36 | Argyle ON | 1.5% | 0.3% | 13 | 1 | 0 |
| 37 | Auteuil QC | 1.4% | 0% | 30 | 0 | 0 |
| 38 | Beamsville ON | 1.2% | 1.3% | 26 | 5 | 9 |
| 39 | Rathwood ON | 0.4% | 0% | 7 | 1 | 0 |
| 40 | Amherstburg ON | 0.1% | 0% | 2 | 0 | 4 |
The map
Squamish on the map: green space, protected land and paths
The town’s parks, woods, protected land and paths, with its named places numbered.
Green: OpenStreetMap parks, gardens, playing fields and woods. Hatched: CPCAD protected areas.© OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL); CPCAD (OGL-Canada)
Places to walk
16 named parks and woods to walk in near Squamish
Brennan Park is the largest, at 20 ha; the rest follow by size, numbered as on the map.
16 named parks and woods, 46 ha in all
Parks & gardens 38 haWoods 8.2 ha
62% of the area is in just two places: Brennan Park and Baynes Island.
Sp’akw'us Feather Park
Park or garden
3.6 ha1.4 km of path
20 minto walk all 1.4 km of path
5.6 km southfrom the centre
Directionsto a point inside
Fisherman's Park
Park or garden
3.8 ha0.8 km of path
10 minto walk all 0.8 km of path
2.9 km northfrom the centre
Directionsto a point inside
Rose Park
Park or garden
3.5 ha0.7 km of path
10 minto walk all 0.7 km of path
3.1 km southfrom the centre
Sea to Sky Trail
Directionsto a point inside
Miyíw̓ts (my-oats) Park
Park or garden
1.9 ha0.8 km of path
10 minto walk all 0.8 km of path
3.8 km southfrom the centre
Directionsto a point inside
Xwu’nekw (whoo-nay-oak) Park
Park or garden
0.6 ha0.2 km of path
4.1 km southfrom the centre
Directionsto a point inside
All 16 named parks and green spaces
Brennan ParkPark or garden · 20 ha · 0.6 km of path
DirectionsSp’akw'us Feather ParkPark or garden · 3.6 ha · 1.4 km of path
DirectionsFisherman's ParkPark or garden · 3.8 ha · 0.8 km of path
DirectionsRose ParkPark or garden · 3.5 ha · 0.7 km of path
DirectionsMiyíw̓ts (my-oats) ParkPark or garden · 1.9 ha · 0.8 km of path
DirectionsBaynes IslandWood or forest · 8.2 ha
DirectionsXwu’nekw (whoo-nay-oak) ParkPark or garden · 0.6 ha · 0.2 km of path
DirectionsPat Goode ParkPark or garden · 0.8 ha
DirectionsEagle Run ParkPark or garden · 0.3 ha · 0.2 km of path
DirectionsStan Clarke ParkPark or garden · 0.5 ha
DirectionsSquamish Dirt JumpsPark or garden · 0.7 ha
DirectionsCottonwood ParkPark or garden · 0.4 ha · 0.1 km of path
DirectionsMcNaugnton ParkPark or garden · 0.4 ha
DirectionsJunction ParkPark or garden · 0.5 ha
DirectionsBaldwin and Cooper ParkPark or garden · 0.3 ha · 0.1 km of path
DirectionsEdgewater ParkPark or garden · 0.2 ha
DirectionsSource: OpenStreetMap parks, gardens, commons and woods with a name, in the town or within 400 m, © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL. Sizes are the mapped outline’s.
Close to home
4 in 10 people in Squamish live near a park
Residents of each 2021 dissemination area, at a point inside it, within 400 m (about a 5-minute walk) of a park or playing field mapped on OpenStreetMap.
Within 400 m (42%)Further (58%)
Squamish42%
Towns in British Columbia72%
Typical Canadian town83%
Around 16,000 residents are further than 400 m from a park. The usual figure for a Canadian town is 83%, above this.
Protected areas
The 20 protected areas near Squamish
Every protected and conserved area in CPCAD within 10 km of the town’s edge: parks, reserves, wildlife areas and conservation land.
Inside Squamish21%
Within 10 km30%
Towns in British Columbia6.7%
Typical Canadian town2.3%
On public land: 18 of the 20. The others are private conservation land. The largest named one is Garibaldi Park, at 188,667 ha. Another 2 are privately owned conservation land; they count in the figures but aren’t named, as private land isn’t a place to visit.
Tantalus ParkProvincial park · 11,432 ha · reaches Squamish
Brackendale Eagles ParkProvincial park · 765 ha · reaches Squamish
Skwelwil'em Squamish Estuary Wildlife Management AreaWildlife area · 663 ha · reaches Squamish
Stawamus Chief ParkProvincial park · 530 ha · reaches Squamish
Alice Lake ParkProvincial park · 411 ha · reaches Squamish
Shannon Falls ParkProvincial park · 86 ha · reaches Squamish
District of Squamish Ecological Reserve LandsNature reserve · 85 ha · reaches Squamish
Baynes Island Ecological ReserveNature reserve · 71 ha · reaches Squamish
Murrin ParkProvincial park · 32 ha · reaches Squamish
Stawamus Chief Protected AreaNature reserve · 2.4 ha · reaches Squamish
5 more named areas within 10 km are in the figures.
3 areas recorded only by their type (provincial layers such as wildlife habitat areas) are counted, not listed.
Source: Canadian Protected and Conserved Areas Database (CPCAD) 2.9.0, Environment and Climate Change Canada. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada.
National & provincial parks
Gulf Islands National Park Reserve, 85 km off
National parks (Parks Canada) and provincial or territorial parks by direction and distance from the town’s edge: every one within 10 km, and the nearest of each within 100 km.
National parkProvincial park
Provincial park
Tantalus Park
At the edge114 km²since 1998
Provincial park
Brackendale Eagles Park
At the edge7.7 km²since 1999
Provincial park
Stawamus Chief Park
At the edge5.3 km²since 1997
Provincial park
Alice Lake Park
At the edge4.1 km²since 1956
Provincial park
Shannon Falls Park
At the edge0.9 km²since 1984
Provincial park
Murrin Park
At the edge0.3 km²since 1962
7 provincial parks lie within 10 km.
Source: CPCAD 2.9.0 (ECCC): areas and outlines, distances outline to outline; directions from the town’s centre point.
Footpaths and woods
Squamish has 643 km of footpaths in and around it
OpenStreetMap footpaths, paths, bridleways and steps, and tracks open on foot, in the town and 1 km around it; woods as mapped (landuse=forest, natural=wood).
Footpaths
643 km
in and around the town (217.6 km²)
Woodland
69%
about 150 km² of mapped woods
Footpaths · km per km²
SquamishTowns in British ColumbiaTypical Canadian town
Footpaths3
024 km per km²
Share of the land · mapped woods and forest
SquamishTowns in British ColumbiaTypical Canadian town
Woodland69%
0%50%100%
Woods cover more of it than in 91% of Canadian towns. Paths are denser here than in 71% of Canadian towns.
Source: OpenStreetMap, © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL. Mapping varies by place: a dense figure can mean keen local mappers as much as many paths.
Walking routes
3 walking routes near Squamish
Named walking and hiking routes on OpenStreetMap with at least 300 m within 2 km of the town, longest first; national routes lead.
RegionalOther waymarked
Sea to Sky Trail78.2 km
Shannon Basin Loop9.0 km
Sea to Summit5.6 km
The Sea to Sky Trail is the big one locally: 78.2 km.
Source: OpenStreetMap (route relations hiking, foot and walking), © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL. Trans Canada Trail sections as OSM maps them.
When to get out
Squamish is best on foot in May to September
Daylight at the town’s latitude and ECCC’s 1991–2020 normals (Squamish, 5.5 km away). Good months: long days, highs of 15–30 °C, light rain.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Daylight (h) | 8.6 | 10.0 | 11.7 | 13.7 | 15.4 | 16.3 | 15.9 | 14.4 | 12.5 | 10.6 | 9.0 | 8.1 |
| High (°C) | 5 | 8 | 10 | 15 | 19 | 21 | 25 | 25 | 21 | 14 | 8 | 4 |
| Rain & snow (mm) | 379 | 195 | 246 | 150 | 88 | 67 | 48 | 54 | 125 | 271 | 383 | 340 |
From 4 °C in December to 25 °C in July: that is the range of daytime highs. Rain and snow peak in November (383 mm) and ease in July (48 mm). The climate in Squamish →
Beaches
Beaches near Squamish: 20 within 5 km
Beaches on OpenStreetMap within 5 km of the town’s edge, nearest first, with directions.
Fisherman's Beachsand · in town
DirectionsWatersports Beachmixed · in town
DirectionsAnother 18 have no name on the map. The shoreline runs 46 km within 5 km of town. This page can’t show water quality: no open, Canada-wide record of beach testing exists. Check local advisories first.
Source: OpenStreetMap (natural=beach), © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL.
Things to do
Near Squamish: 99 viewpoints, 35 waterfalls
Viewpoints, peaks, waterfalls, picnic sites, nature reserves, playgrounds, dog parks, campsites and boat launches mapped within 2 km of the town.
The highest named peak nearby is Pictou Peak, at 1,248 m. There are 99 viewpoints, more than of anything else.
Every named place, with directions
Viewpoints 99
Brian's Lookoutin town
DirectionsCapilano Lookoutin town
DirectionsFawn Lake Viewpointin town
DirectionsMamquam Falls Viewing Platformin town
DirectionsNighthawk Lookoutin town
DirectionsPanorama Pointin town
DirectionsParadise Valley Eagle Viewing Sitein town
DirectionsQuercus Lookoutin town
DirectionsPlus 91 viewpoints without a name on the map.
Hills and peaks 19
Brohm Hill435 m · in town
DirectionsCougar Ridge242 m · in town
DirectionsDeBeck's Hill470 m · in town
DirectionsFive Point Hill251 m · in town
DirectionsMalamute108 m · in town
DirectionsMount Crumpit331 m · in town
DirectionsNorth Slhanay629 m · in town
DirectionsPapoose140 m · in town
DirectionsPlus 11 hills and peaks without a name on the map.
Waterfalls 35
Mamquam Fallsin town
DirectionsMashiter Creek Fallsin town
DirectionsShannon Falls0.0 km from town
DirectionsUpper Shannon Falls0.1 km from town
DirectionsWoodfibre Falls0.4 km from town
DirectionsOlesen Creek Falls0.4 km from town
DirectionsRing Creek Falls0.8 km from town
DirectionsSkookum Falls1.6 km from town
DirectionsPlus 27 waterfalls without a name on the map.
Nature reserves 15
Baynes Island Ecological Reservein town
DirectionsEast Shore N - Watts Pt. South Recreation Reservein town
DirectionsEast Shore Watts Point Recreation Reservein town
DirectionsFMCBC Landsin town
DirectionsRaffuse Creek Recreation Reservein town
DirectionsSwift Creek Recreation Reservein town
DirectionsTantalus Landing Marine Sitein town
DirectionsParadise Valley Urep Recreation Reserve0.6 km from town
DirectionsPlus 7 nature reserves more.
Picnic sites 10
Plus 10 picnic sites without a name on the map.
Playgrounds 35
Little Smoke Bluffs Playparkin town
DirectionsMcNaugnton Park Playgroundin town
DirectionsValleycliffe Elementary Playgroundin town
DirectionsÁynexwi7 Playground0.0 km from town
DirectionsPlus 31 playgrounds without a name on the map.
Campsites 18
Alice Lake Campgroundin town
DirectionsGroup Campgroundin town
DirectionsMamquam River Campgroundin town
DirectionsMTN Fun Basecampin town
DirectionsParadise Valley Campgroundin town
DirectionsRaffuse Creek Recreation Areain town
DirectionsStawamus Chief Campgroundin town
DirectionsTantalus Landing Marine Sitein town
DirectionsPlus 10 campsites without a name on the map.
Source: OpenStreetMap (tourism, natural, waterway and leisure tags), © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL.
Next door
Next to Squamish
The nearest places, coloured by the share of the land within 10 km that is protected; tap one for its outdoors page. Squamish has few close neighbours with figures, so the list reaches 4–43 km out.
Electoral Area D, Squamish-LillooetLions BayElectoral Area F, Sunshine CoastBowen IslandWest VancouverSquamish
Under 1%1–5%5–15%15–40%40%+
| Town | Protected within 10 km | Areas | Routes | Beaches |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Squamish | 30% | 20 | 3 | 20 |
| Electoral Area D, Squamish-Lillooet 4.1 km | 42% | 46 | 7 | 85 |
| Lions Bay 31 km | 12% | 16 | 2 | 14 |
| Electoral Area F, Sunshine Coast 41 km | 10% | 73 | 0 | 231 |
| Bowen Island 43 km | 7.2% | 60 | 0 | 173 |
| West Vancouver 43 km | 8.6% | 56 | 10 | 132 |
For walking routes, West Vancouver leads the area with 10. Around Squamish, nobody nearby has double its protected land.
How to read these numbers
What this data can and can’t tell you
- Walking routes. Routes are what OpenStreetMap’s volunteers have mapped as named walking or hiking routes; many good trails aren’t mapped that way.
- Private land. Private conservation land is in the totals, not the lists. Many such areas are easements on working farms or woodlots.
- Protected land. The share is of the land and water within 10 km of the town’s outline, from CPCAD’s mapped areas; marine areas count, so a coastal town can score high on water.
- National and provincial parks. The nearest national park and the nearest provincial park are always shown when they are within 100 km.
- Beaches. Beaches are OpenStreetMap’s, named or not; in the north many are unnamed shoreline imports.
Questions about the outdoors in Squamish
Where can you swim near Squamish?
Try Fisherman's Beach, in town, first of several.
What walking routes are near Squamish?
Try the Sea to Sky Trail, Shannon Basin Loop and Sea to Summit; more are on the map.
How much land around Squamish is protected?
Yes: 30% of the land within 10 km is protected.
How far is the nearest provincial park from Squamish?
Alice Lake Park touches the town.
What is the best season to get outdoors in Squamish?
May to September: long days, mild highs and little rain.
What is the nearest national park to Squamish?
Gulf Islands National Park Reserve, 85 km from the edge of town.
What is the largest protected area near Squamish?
Garibaldi Park: 188,667 ha, a provincial park.
Sources
Where Squamish’s outdoors figures come from
Protected areas: Canadian Protected and Conserved Areas Database (CPCAD) 2.9.0, Environment and Climate Change Canada, 2026: every area within 10 km and the nearest national and provincial parks, measured outline to outline.
Walking routes and beaches: OpenStreetMap, November 2026: named hiking, foot and walking route relations within 2 km and beaches within 5 km.
Towns: Statistics Canada 2021 Census boundaries and populations; the comparison is the Canadian towns and neighbourhoods of 2,500+, not city hubs or reserves.
When to go: Environment and Climate Change Canada, Canadian Climate Normals 1991–2020, from the nearest station that publishes them.
Green space, paths, woods, things to do: OpenStreetMap (Geofabrik’s Canada extract), November 2026: parks, gardens, playing fields, woods, footpaths, the coastline and things to do in and around each town.
Residents: Statistics Canada 2021 Census dissemination areas (population, boundaries), each at a point inside it.
Walking routes and beaches © OpenStreetMap contributors, available under the Open Database Licence (ODbL).
Not on this page: trailheads and trail grades, and beach water quality. No open Canadian dataset gives these for every town yet.
Adapted from Statistics Canada (Census of Population 2021, population estimates 2025, 2021 census boundaries) under the Statistics Canada Open Licence; this does not constitute an endorsement by Statistics Canada. Neighbourhood names in some cities © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL).